The 2026 American League Cy Young Race: Can Cease Finally Break Through?

An All-Star in just his second season, Cam Schlittler took the league by storm after his excellent playoff showing last year. In 14.1 innings last postseason, Schlittler only gave up two runs, struck out 14, and had zero walks. That great play has carried over into this season where he ranks top five in the MLB in ERA and strikeouts.

The Yankees starting rotation has seen Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, and Carlos Rodon all miss time due to injury, and Schlittler has taken this opportunity to become the team’s ace.

With the MLB postseason looming, expect to see Schlittler starting for the Yankees in their biggest games.

His card values have already seen a steady increase, but winning his first Cy Young award would cause prices to skyrocket even more.

Pictured: 2026 Topps Chrome Rookie Autographs Gold Geometric Refractors #RACSC Cam Schlittler

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After two years in San Diego with the Padres, Dylan Cease signed a seven-year contract with the Blue Jays for $210 million this past offseason. So far, Cease has more than lived up to that contract by having his best season yet. He ranks within the top five in the majors in ERA and strikeouts and was voted an All-Star for the first time in his career.

Cease has previously finished in the top five of Cy Young award voting twice, taking second in 2022 with the White Sox and fourth in 2024 with the Padres. He has racked up 200+ strikeouts in each of the past five seasons and is on pace to make it a sixth straight in 2026.

A year after losing to the Dodgers in the World Series, the Blue Jays are trending toward missing the postseason entirely. But if Cease continues to dominate on the mound, he could become the first Blue Jays pitcher to win the award since Robbie Ray in 2021.

Pictured: 2020 Topps Chrome Sapphire #326 Dylan Cease RC

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If there is one player who could disrupt the current AL Cy Young race, it’s veteran right-hander Sonny Gray. The 36-year-old pitcher for the Boston Red Sox has had his best year since 2023 when he finished second in Cy Young voting with the Minnesota Twins. He has the second-most wins (14) in the majors this season, trailing only Philadelphia Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez (15).

Gray is not striking out batters like he once did, but he has continued to win games as a crafty 14-year professional. In the last three years combined, he has an overall record of 41-20, split between his time with the St. Louis Cardinals and Red Sox.

Crazier things have happened before, so if Gray can overcome the odds and win his first Cy Young award at 36, then his cards could see one last major increase in value as his career winds down.

Pictured: 2011 Bowman Sterling Prospect Autographs #SG Sonny Gray

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